Adults who display obsessive homophobia don't merely vote "yes" on Prop Hate, they derive pleasure from attacking and harming those of whom they disapprove. This is an immoral act, but they pride themselves on their moralistic stance because they are backed up by the Approved Text of Bigotry and Hatred (aka the Bible, or whatever antisocial religious manifesto).
In general, it's my professional impression that obsessive homophobics are psychologically damaged individuals who derive an undeserved sense of power from hurting others whom they regard as legitimized targets.
Children who display this anti-empathic psychopathology are regarded as suffering from Oppositional Defiant Disorder. When lack of empathy for suffering is found in adults, the individuals are typically classified as having Antisocial Personality Disorder (sociopathy).
Personality Disorders are very difficult to treat because the afflicted individual tends to cling tenaciously to their disordered thinking.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines personality disorders as "an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the culture of the individual who exhibits it".
and,
"Personality refers to a distinctive set of traits, behavior styles, and patterns that make up our character or individuality. How we perceive the world, our attitudes, thoughts, and feelings are all part of our personality. People with healthy personalities are able to cope with normal stresses and have no trouble forming relationships with family, friends, and co-workers.
Those who struggle with a personality disorder have great difficulty dealing with other people. They tend to be inflexible, rigid, and unable to respond to the changes and demands of life. Although they feel that their behavior patterns are “normal” or “right,” people with personality disorders tend to have a narrow view of the world and find it difficult to participate in social activities."
Because there are so many ultra-conservative, religiously-obsessed individuals in the US, their psychopathology has unfortunately not been assigned a diagnostic category in the DSM-IV R. Here's a tongue in cheek description of their commonly encountered attributes.
From a university website:
Understanding Homophobia and Heterosexism.
Sexual Prejudice: Motivations.
Demographic Correlates
In contrast to heterosexuals with favorable attitudes toward gay people, those with negative attitudes are more likely to be:
• men
• older
• less well-educated
• residing in geographic areas where negative attitudes represent the norm (for example, rural areas or the Midwestern or Southern United States).
Political and Religious Values
In contrast to heterosexuals with favorable attitudes toward gay people, those with negative attitudes are:
• more likely to attend religious services frequently
• more likely to endorse orthodox religious beliefs, such as the literal truth of the Bible
• more likely to be a Republican than a Democrat or Independent
• more likely to describe themselves as politically conservative, rather than liberal or moderate.
In contrast to heterosexuals with favorable attitudes toward gay people, those with negative attitudes:
• display higher levels of psychological authoritarianism
• are less sexually permissive
• are more supportive of traditional gender roles.
Perceptions and Experiences of Gay Men and Lesbians
In contrast to heterosexuals with favorable attitudes toward gay people, those with negative attitudes:
• are more likely to believe that a homosexual orientation is freely chosen
• are less likely to have had close personal friends or family members who are openly lesbian or gay.
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